HIPAA Highlights for Social Workers

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, otherwise know as HIPAA, has generated several sets of federal regulations applicable to health care practitioners, including social workers. These regulations have the potential to streamline many paper-based office functions and hopefully to speed payments by insurers. The Administrative Simplification provisions of HIPAA include the following topics: medical privacy, electronic transactions standards and code sets, security and unique identifiers. The medical privacy regulations (Privacy Rule) require practitioners’ compliance by April 14, 2003. Timelines for compliance with electronic transactions standards and code sets regulations are already applicable to many practitioners and will be in place for others by October 2003.

With the creation of the HIPAA Highlights page, NASW has consolidated into one easy access point information about HIPAA for social workers. Members have access to NASW-produced materials to assist in understanding and complying with many new federal requirements.

Links to the HIPAA Prof training program and sample forms are provided under the "features" listing. Support for the development of the HIPAA Highlights page, preparation of the forms, and NASW HIPAA Prof training program has come from the NASW Legal Defense Fund. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also continue to provide pertinent technical assistance and tools for entities that are subject to HIPAA.

	Overview of HIPAA*
	Review HIPAA basics, learn about important deadlines, and find out if you are required to comply with HIPAA.
	Medical Privacy*
	This section includes a comprehensive collection of materials on the HIPAA Privacy Rule, including NASW Practice Updates, a legal overview, guidance from HHS, sample forms and the complete text of the federal medical privacy regulations.
	Electronic Transactions Standards and Code Sets*
	Look here for answers to frequently asked questions about the electronic transactions standards applicability and deadlines, HHS’s enforcement plan, and an NASW Practice Update with compliance tips.
	Security Standards*
	Look here for requirements of the HIPAA Security Standards, including an NASW presentation, a Small Practice Implementation Guide, and the text of the federal regulations.
	National Provider Identifier*
	This section contains information about the National Provider Identifier (NPI) system, its benefits, what is required, an NASW Practice Update, and CMS registration information.